Shakeup at Burger King: hot dogs join burgers on the menu

The fast-food chain announced this week that it will start offering its “grilled dogs” nationally starting Feb. 23.

“We’ve worked to bring guests a hot dog that tastes like backyard barbecue,” Alex Macedo, who leads the company’s unit in North America, said in a press conference. According to CNNMoney, Burger King started experimenting with hot dogs in five cities last year, and decided to go nationwide after those sales exceeded targets.

It will offer the “classic” hot dog for $1.99 and a chili-cheese version for $2.29. Toppings on the “classic” dog include relish, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. It’s the first time in Burger King’s 62-year history that it will offer hot dogs.

Burger King has two locations in Norwalk, including one that was rebuilt last summer at the intersection of Milan and Republic avenues at the city’s north side. The other location is also on U.S. 250 but on the city’s south side across from Fisher-Titus Medical Center.

With the launch, Burger King says it will offer hot dogs at all 7,100 of its U.S. restaurants — more U.S. locations than any other chain, according to the Associated Press. Smaller chains that sell hot dogs include Dairy Queen and Sonic Drive-In.

The move comes as Burger King works to push up sales amid intensifying competition, with McDonald’s offering breakfast items all day to spark a turnaround, while Wendy’s offers a “4 for $4” deal to get customers in the door. In 2014, Burger King’s sales rose 2.1 percent at established locations in the U.S. and Canada. Parent company Restaurant Brands International Inc. reports results for 2015 next week.